FWG Records artist: Cee Cee James - Stripped Down & Surrendered - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stripped Down & Surrendered from Cee Cee James and it's a funky, bluesy pop mix. Opening with title track, Stripped Down & Surrendered, Cee Cee James takes it back to the delta with acoustic guitar and rudimentary percussion under her own vocals. A cool electric guitar adds bite and a modern touch. Nicely glazed by a steel bodied resonator guitar, The Edge Is Where I Stopped has a nice melody and warm vocals with minimal snare work. Another track with tasty slide work is Hidden and Buried. A cool rhythm, backing work like vocals and keyboard make this one of my favorite tracks on the release. Slow, San Francisco style blues, Love Done Left Home, looks at a more contemporary form of blues with James stretching a bit more on vocals and nice guitar work highlighting the track. Cold Hard Gun is bluesy but restrained with a nice blues guitar vamp and nice vocal harmonies. Another track with San Francisco traces is Thank You For Never Loving Me with particularly expressive vocals and intimate guitar riffs. Another of my favorites on the release is You're My Man with an almost Willie Dixon swagger. Wrapping the release is So Grateful, stripped back to resonator and vocal. A nice conclusion to a solid release.



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FWG Records artist: Cee Cee James - Blood Red Blues - New Release Review

I just received a copy of Blood Red Blues, the new Cee Cee James recording that will be released on July 17, 2012. The title track, Blood Red Blues, opens the 12 original track release with a gritty, swampy blues chant of a song. Rob "Slideboy" Andrews add some really nice slide texture to the song. Up next is a blues rocker, Let's All Get Loose which not only features James' gritty voice but strong lead guitar riffs from Rocky Athas. I'm Takin' Mine has a foot stompin' sound and James takes no prisoners. James has a naturally interesting voice with although different in style, has a lot of the resonant qualities of Janis. James has her own road to travel and I believe with the writing quality and appeal of her singing she will sell a lot of cd's based upon a lot of airplay. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

New Cee Cee James Album, "Blood Red Blues," Already a Hit at AirPlay Direct Digital Download Service

NEW CEE CEE JAMES ALBUM,

BLOOD RED BLUES, ALREADY A HIT AT AIRPLAY DIRECT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD SERVICE

ALBUM IS CURRENTLY #1 ON AIRPLAY DIRECT’S GLOBAL CHART FOR ALL GENRES

ST. LOUIS, MO – Although it won’t be officially released until July 17, Blood Red Blues, the dynamic new album from St. Louis-based blues-rock singer Cee Cee James, is already a hit at AirPlay Direct, the digital service used by many radio stations to download their new CDs for airplay. To visit AirPlay Direct, click on this link: http://airplaydirect.com/.  

Blood Red Blues was uploaded to AirPlay Direct on June 8^th, and in that short amount of time, over 812 downloads to radio DJs have been achieved, indicating an enormous interest by radio stations for her new CD. In addition to Blood Red Blues, select cuts from her previous CDs are also offered for download. Only registered stations at AirPlay Direct can download the album, although others can stream tracks from the new CD at the site.

As of June 20, here are the AirPlay Direct stats for Cee Cee’s new album:

OVERALL CHARTS

#1 on Global (all genres) for June with 812 downloads to DJ's

#1 on Blues for June 

#20 on Blues for ALL TIME with 1225

SINGLES CHART

#1 AND #2 Rock SINGLES for June 

#50 on TOP 50 SINGLES GLOBAL for June

#40 on TOP AMERICANA SINGLES FOR JUNE

Several tunes on the TOP BLUES SINGLES FOR JUNE

#1 and #2 on the TOP COUNTRY/ALT SINGLES FOR JUNE

Several tunes on the TOP ROCK SINGLES FOR JUNE

Blood Red Blues has also already hit the Worldwide Roots Charts at #29 on June 8th and rose to #26 on June 15^th, by virtue of the stations reporting to that chart that have already downloaded the new CD.

Produced by Grammy-winner Jim Gaines, Blood Red Blues is being released on her own imprint, FWG Records, with international distribution by Burnside Distribution. Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Royal Southern Brotherhood), who tracked the sessions at his Bessie Blue Studio in West Tennessee, perfectly captures all the exciting elements of Cee Cee’s vocal style on the new album, creating a sound that is both vulnerable and passionate, igniting the songs with a burning, sensual yearning that drives home the dozen all-original songs.

Blood Red Blues is the fourth album from Cee Cee James, whose powerfully soulful vocals have already created a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike all over the world. Backing Cee Cee on Blood Red Blues are Rob “Slideboy” Andrews on rhythm and slide guitar, Rocky Athas on lead guitar, Chris Leighton on drums, Dan Mohler on bass and Susan Jillian on keyboards, along with vocal backing from Stanley Crouse, Vicki Atkins, Danunielle “Pie” Hill and Kimberlie Helton.

After working with James, Jim Gaines called her “one of the greatest blues-rock singers out there today. She’s someone I call an ‘old soul.’ Cee Cee’s songs are wonderful stories of her life experiences, and backed by Rob’s strong Delta roots/blues slide and rhythm guitar playing, they make a great team. Her style reminds me of our classic early female blues and rock singers. She’s very passionate about giving a great performance.”

Cee Cee’s blistering vocals tell the truth of the powerful messages in her songs, born and bred from a lifetime of heartache and loss, but delivered with a message of hope, understanding and the healing power of love. The hallmark off her career has been her intense live performances, as anyone who’s seen her can attest. Blood Red Blues distills that energy and transmits it through the recording process into something that is valid and compelling.

Cee Cee James was originally based on the West Coast. Her first album, a pop/funk CD, garnered the Los Angeles Independent Artist of the Year Award; and a track off that album was honored as one of the top 10 in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, before she directed all her talent and energy to the blues. Her second CD, Low Down Where the Snakes Crawl,” was released in 2008 and gained worldwide distribution, as well as critical press and radio attention. By that time, she had re-located to the Pacific Northwest  and in 2009 she won the Klamath Falls, Oregon Blues Challenge & went on to compete in the 2010 IBC finals in Memphis, where esteemed writer/editor Don Wilcock called her” the most exciting and original act at this year’s IBC.” Her last CD, Seriously Raw – Live at Sunbanks,” drew more extensive radio airplay and rave reviews, also bringing Cee Cee the “Best Blues Songwriter Award” and a nomination for “Best Blues Vocalist” from the Washington Blues Society in 2010.

For more information, visit www.ceeceejames.com

If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”

Blues-Rock Singer Cee Cee James Set to Release New CD, "Blood Red Blues," on July 17

BLUES-ROCK SINGER CEE CEE JAMES SET TO RELEASE NEW CD, BLOOD RED BLUES, PRODUCED BY GRAMMY-WINNER JIM GAINES, ON JULY 17

ST. LOUIS, MO – Blues-rock singer Cee Cee James announces a July 17 release date for her new album, Blood Red Blues, produced by Grammy-winner Jim Gaines, on July 17. Blood Red Blues will be released on her own imprint, FWG Records, with international distribution by Burnside Distribution.

Blood Red Blues is the fourth CD from the St. Louis-based singer, whose powerfully soulful vocals have already created a lasting impression on audiences and critics alike all over the world. Producer/engineer/mixer Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, Luther Allison), who tracked the sessions at his Bessie Blue Studio in West Tennessee, perfectly captures all the exciting elements of Cee Cee’s vocal style on the new album, creating a sound that is both vulnerable and passionate, igniting the songs with a burning, sensual yearning that drives home the dozen all-original songs.

Backing Cee Cee on Blood Red Blues are Rob “Slideboy” Andrews on rhythm and slide guitar, Rocky Athas on lead guitar, Chris Leighton on drums, Dan Mohler on bass and Susan Jillian on keyboards, along with vocal backing from Stanley Crouse, Vicki Atkins, Danunielle “Pie” Hill and Kimberlie Helton.

After working with James, Jim Gaines called her “one of the greatest blues-rock singers out there today. She’s someone I call an ‘old soul.’ Cee Cee’s songs are wonderful stories of her life experiences, and backed by Rob’s strong Delta roots/blues slide and rhythm guitar playing, they make a great team. Her style reminds me of our classic early female blues and rock singers. She’s very passionate about giving a great performance.”

Cee Cee’s blistering vocals tell the truth of the powerful messages in her songs, born and bred from a lifetime of heartache and loss, but delivered with a message of hope, understanding and the healing power of love. The hallmark off her career has been her intense live performances, as anyone who’s seen her can attest. Blood Red Blues distills that energy and transmits it through the recording process into something that is valid and compelling.

Cee Cee James was originally based on the West Coast. Her first album, a pop/funk CD, garnered the Los Angeles Independent Artist of the Year Award; and a track off that album was honored as one of the top 10 in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, before she directed all her talent and energy to the blues. Her second CD, Low Down Where the Snakes Crawl,” was released in 2008 and gained worldwide distribution, as well as critical press and radio attention. By that time, she had re-located to the Pacific Northwest and in 2009 she won the Klamath Falls, Oregon Blues Challenge & went on to compete in the 2010 IBC finals in Memphis, where esteemed writer/editor Don Wilcock called her” the most exciting and original act at this year’s IBC.” Her last CD, Seriously Raw – Live at Sunbanks,” drew more extensive radio airplay and rave reviews, also bringing Cee Cee the “Best Blues Songwriter Award” and a nomination for “Best Blues Vocalist” from the Washington Blues Society in 2010.

Cee Cee James just returned from a tour of Europe that included shows in the recently earthquake-ravaged areas of Italy, and will return to that continent in October with a Scandinavian tour. She’s also been tapped to star in a supporting role in the upcoming film, We Be Kings, which also features such other blues stars as Magic Slim and Grana Louise, and features Slim’s band, The Teardrops.

If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”